Month: September 2009

Tyra Banks’ breathless utterance during the opening montage of America’s Next Top Model elicits an almost Pavlovian response from those of us who have loved it since its inception. But why love it? Easy: it’s like a virtual high school revenge fantasy.

In Fred Zinnemann’s 1952 timeless Western High Noon, Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) fights a battle for his soul over the dilemma of whether to pursue what’s easy versus what’s right. Or, in the modern vernacular, the path of least resistance versus, perhaps, the path of righteousness.

467,484 views on YouTube — and counting — can’t be wrong. The video in question? “If I Made a Commercial for Trader Joe’s,” a love letter of sorts to, of all things, a chain grocery store. Surprising? Hardly, when you consider that the store in question is a quirky, friendly, and low-priced option that has penetrated the lifestyles and psyches of Californians for generations.

That’s the title of one of The Beatles’ most poignant songs, but it’s also an apt description of September 2009. It might as well have been 1963, because the Fab Four invaded again and Beatles Mania could be found everywhere.

The face of sweeteners is changing rapidly. And never mind things that are just plain wrong, like Splenda with Fiber. Apparently, it’s a natural option, stevia, that could be the real future of non-sugar sweeteners. But can a sweetener known for bitterness and odd flavoring really be that popular?

Is it possible to derive real comfort while trying to stay financially self-sufficient? Absolutely. When providing food for friends or guests, you have no further to look than the simple, powerful, often transformative cookie. A simple recipe, easily made allergy safe, included!

Isn’t celebrating the annual “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” only by talking like a pirate a little pedestrian? Predictable? On-the-nose? We humbly present a treasure trove of ways to make your Talk Like a Pirate Day more than an exercise in parody.

Podcasts have changed audio entertainment forever. To get some perspective on the phenomenon, we spoke with four hosts of the hottest shows available: Patrick Melton of Nobody Likes Onions; Peter Rojas of GDGT; Brian Ibbott of Coverville; and Christopher Neseman of Around Comics.